Economists have estimated that if stay-at-home moms were compensated for the labor they performed at home, their wages would be around $37,233.65 annually. I’m not an economist, but Id argue that figure is a little low. Child care, house work, and even the educating that stay-at-home moms take on are three jobs in one.
But in reality, most stay-at-home moms never see any financial compensation for their efforts. One mom, however, has found a way to get something for at least some of her labor. Well … sort of.
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This mom shared that every month her husband pays her $250 for a cleaner.
Brianna, who goes by @themammabrianna on TikTok, shared a video of a woman cleaning a kitchen. As the woman cleans, the text at the top of the video tells a story. It shares that every month $250 comes out of her husband’s bank account. The money is for the family’s housecleaner, who deep cleans the house the first of every month.
Brianna first asked for the cleaner when she was pregnant with her now-1-year-old and throwing up 10 times a day. At the time, her husband told her, the expense didn’t align with their budget.
A few months ago, things changed.
Her husband came back to her a few months ago and asked if she still wanted the cleaner. She said yes and volunteered to set it all up. She just needed the money. Then Brianna let the other shoe drop.
“What he doesn’t know is that I’m the one who’s been deep cleaning the house on the 1st of every month. I’ve just been pocketing the cash,” she says in the video. Brianna says she thinks she’ll find an expensive hobby and use the money for that.
The real reason for the video comes at the end.
At the end of the video, Brianna writes, “If you feel the need to hide money from your partner in order to plan you escape, check the resource in my bio.”
The link in Brianna’s bio directs users to the domestic violence hotline.
Brianna’s account actually exists to highlight common occurrences in abusive relationships, whether emotional, financial, or physical. One user wrote that seeing these scenarios performed online could help people better identify the severity of abuse in their own lives.
The people who understood offered their gratitude.
Some people understand the nature of the account and others don’t. They frequently encourage Brianna to get out and run away, which also could serve as another reminder to people who see themselves in her video. Either way, followers often share similar experiences.
“My mom grew up in an ✨unfriendly✨ house,” one user wrote. “She’s been married to my dad for like 30 years and still keeps ‘run money.’”
Another woman told a bit of her personal story. “My boss would pay me part check, part cash so I could save up money secretly to escape, since he saw every paycheck I got,” she wrote.
Someone else simply said thank you. “I knew there was a reason I was seeing this video. As a survivor thank you for getting this message out,” the person commented.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women’s shelter (domesticshelters.org).
